Quarantine?

I've heard nothing about travelers returning to the US from Italy being routinely subject to any quarantine whatsoever (from China, yes, but not from Italy).

You should expect to be asked a few questions upon your return to the US, or whenever you clear passport control internationally anywhere (specific to where you have been, and how you are feeling). I know that at some airports, passengers are being discreetly scanned for their temperature (using thermal imaging technology as you walk by); those running an abnormally high temperature are pulled aside for further review.

I suspect that lines to clear passport control (everywhere) will be longer and it will take a bit more time to get through airports for a while, so plan extra time accordingly and don't be surprised. Obviously, if you've been in one of the impacted locations, and/or if you are feeling ill, things will be adjusted as needed.

That said, things are changing and will continue to evolve, so keep following developments.

I think it would be prudent to avoid Milan and Venice.

So far nothing has been said about re-entry into the US and no flights have been cancelled. My husband is to return to the US this Saturday from Bologna so we are hoping it will go according to plan. At this point I would avoid northern Italy. Nothing touristy is open... I'm in Emilia Romagna and Modena has nothing open for tourists.... yes restaurants. No libraries, churches, football matches, museums etc are open. We are hoping the ban gets lifted next week but it is not looking good right now.

There's supposed to be some news from the US administration tonight, so it's probably worth checking for any updates after that.

I've cleared a few posts. This is a reminder to avoid conjecture about this evolving situation.

It would take an extraordinary crystal ball to predict what travel /quarantine restrictions may be put in place 4 weeks from now.

At some point, I think we are going to have to acknowledge that the cat is out of the bag, so to speak. I do not understand putting only certain places on lock down, when there are cases popping up outside of that zone anyway.

And in my opinion, and this is only my opinion, it seems like many people either have no symptoms or very minor symptoms. Not sure we can expect everything and everyone to go on lock down. I actually agree with a person CNN interviewed right outside the town that are in quarantine in Italy that the economic devastation we are causing because of the panic is worse that the virus itself.

We have 55 days until our trip.
We can cancel most housing accomodations w/o charge/fee "now"

We'll wait before canceling, etc.
But 'our' discussions need to also ask about the (self?) quarantine when returning to the USA. It is a MORAL Q.
If you return home and are infected and your friends / relatives get it, you're the agent that made that happen.

The incubation period is easily over 3 weeks but many only quarantine for 14 days.
The virus can live outside the body for DAYS.
So, there would have to be a quarantine of over a month (3 weeks + 1 week) just based on what we see reported today.

I'm self employed and can't stay away from my work for 3+ weeks.

The incubation period (during which the virus can be spread but the carrier shows no signs of infection) does seem to be longer than 2 weeks - how much longer is hard to say, but it does seem (to me) that the "2 week quarantine" period isn't adequate. This is a really tough combination that makes this thing have so much potential.

Given all that, I'm wondering how many of us already have been infected and just don't know it yet. I woke up this morning with a slight sore-throat and went running for the thermometer (clocked-in at exactly 98.6, thankfully). Gonna be a lot of paranoia around.

I'll be following this thread. We are also schedule to depart MIA, connect in Lisbon, on to Venice on 03/15. No reason to visit, if most locations are closed.

Also worried the while time, if/will we contract the virus. Makes for a stressful trip...